Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts - March 11, 2009
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
March 11, 2009 in the City Council Chambers, City Hall. Present were
Mrs. Jo-Ann Bragg, Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mrs. Elaine Dwyer, Mr. Nicholas
Puleo, and Mr. Dave McCarthy, Vice Chairman.
Vice Chairman
Presiding
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The Superintendent called the roll and Mr. Mariano and Mayor Koch were
absent. Also present were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary; Mrs. Tefta
Burrelli, Clerk; Messrs. Mullaney, Mulvey, Draicchio, Keith Segalla, Ms. Roberts
and Hughes, and Dr. Sylvia Pattavina. Ms. Tracey Christello, Citywide and Mr.
Paul Phillips, QEA.
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Reg. Mins.Approved 2/11/2009
On a motion by Mr. Puleo, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer, the Committee approved
the regular session minutes for February 11, 2009. The ayes have it.
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Supt’s Report Music Program
Ms. Tracey O’Sullivan introduced the Montclair Band Members conducted
by Stephanie Enzmann. They played several selections for the members. Also
present was eighth grader, Amanda Lee, who played a selection on the violin.
Ms. O’Sullivan told the members that the student bands have increased
in number. The Montclair Band alone has 40 students. Ms. O’Sullivan passed
out copies of the Music Notes Newsletters. The members were very happy with
the success of the music program.
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Upcoming Events
On March 20, the Business Ed Team will hold the first Credit Fair for
Life. This program will instruct students how to use credit appropriately.
Treasurer, Tim Cahill, will be present.
Staying Alive and Abammania will be held on April 3 at the Marriott
Quincy. The doors open at 7:00 p.m.
The Robotics team placed 7th.out of 53 teams. They will go to Phoenix
for another competition.
The Partnership Breakfast will be held on Thursday, April 7 to thank
our partners for their service to our students.
The Superintendent thanked everyone for participating in Reading
Across America. School Committee members, staff, retirees, parents
all went in a read to students.
The Committee received literature for Winter Institute, and Jr. Heroes
sponsored by Kiwanis.
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Open Forum
At the Open Forum, Ms. Laura Innis, asked if the children could be involved
in a contest to design the cover of Quincy’s beach guide. She is on the Beach
Committee for Quincy.
Mr. Paul Phillips, QEA President, spoke to the GIC figures that were just
announced. He told the members that participants will receive a big savings
by joining the GIC. However, he said there could be a change in
co-payments.
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Bldg. Update
Mr. Kevin Murphy thanked the Maintenance Department, the Custodial
Department and Mr. Lou Ioanilli for the success of the move to the new
high school. Everything has been moved out of the old CTE. The PA
System at Atlantic is completed, and Wood Shop at Broad Meadows is
finished. Maintenance is working on a new computer lab at Squantum, and
the Maintenance staff is doing a wonderful job finishing the auditorium at
Sterling. At Coddington, they are working on a computer lab.
The Superintendent is planning a report on Honeywell for the next meeting.
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School Nurses Update Mrs. Kisieluis reports
Ms. Jane Kisieluis and three school nurses, Rita Bailey, Emily O’Connell
and Kristin Houlihan gave an in-depth review of what our school nurses
do. School nursing is an essential link to learning. It is a specialized practice
of professional nursing that advances the well being, academic success,
and life-long achievement of students. School nurses facilitate positive
student responses to normal development, promote health and safety,
intervene with actual and potential health problems, provide case management
services, and actively collaborate with others to build student and family
capacity for adaptations, self management, self advocacy and learning. Their
purpose is to enhance the educational process by the modification or removal
of health-related barriers to learning and promoting a level of wellness.
Quincy has 21 full time nurses, four part time nurses, four paraprofessionals
and a Coordinator of Health Services. The nurses provide state mandated
screenings for vision, hearing, scoliosis, height/weight/body mass index.
They maintain individual student health records, computerized record
SNAP, maintain a daily log of all student visits, and the ESHA Grant
monthly/annual reporting on health office activity. The nurses were very
happy with the SNAP program, a computerized record keeping program
which follows the student all the way through high school. The nurses also
go into the classroom to teach hygiene, hand washing, growth and development,
tobacco cessation. Every school in Quincy has a nurse and the high schools
each have two nurses. The Committee thanked the all the nurses for the
extraordinary work that they do every day for the staff and students.
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QHS Bldg. Committee Mrs. Dwyer reports
Mrs. Dwyer reported that the Quincy High School ribbon cutting ceremony
on February 22 went well. Over 100 people came to the open house. There
were tours of the building. Mr. Jim Driscoll from Gilbane was present to
give an update of the progress. Gilbane turned over the building to the
School Department on March 23. People are now working inside the old
CTE pulling asbestos, etc. Demolition will begin soon. The bridge came
down over the weekend. The site has been secured and a fence installed
around the marsh. The parking lot has been upgraded. The demolition
will begin at the Coddington side and work forward. The demolition should
be done by the middle of April
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Central Bldg. Committee Mrs. Bragg reports
Mrs. Bragg reported that the Central Building Committee received nine
bids for Project Manager. They narrowed it down to four companies. After
interviews, they narrowed the field to two. Of the top two companies both
were highly praised by the person contacted for references. The Central Building
Committee voted to hire Tishman Construction as the Owners Project Manager.
Vote to approve Tishman Construction OPM
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg and Mrs. Mahoney, the City of Quincy School Committee,
having received regular updates regarding the Central Middle School Building
Committee’s activities – specifically, its process for the selection of an Owner’s
Project Manager; and having heard from the committee that following its process,
it has selected Tishman Construction of Boston as its choice to serve as the
OPM for the Central Middle School Project, hereby votes to endorse the Central
Middle School Building Committees’ process and selection of Tishman
Construction as Owner’s Project Manager. On a roll call vote, the motion passed
5-0. Mr. Mariano and Mayor Koch were absent.
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2009/2010 School Calendar Approved
On a motion by Mr. Puleo, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer, the Committee approved
the second draft of the School Calendar for 2009-2010. This calendar has the
first day of school for teachers as Tuesday, September 1, 2009 and the students
returning to school on Wednesday, September 2, 2009. This is a change from
the usual opening day of school. The ayes have it.
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SC Calendar Approved
On a motion by Mrs. Dwyer, seconded by Mrs. Mahoney, the Committee
approved the School Committee calendar for 2009-2010. The ayes have it.
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District Improvement Plan
At this time, Superintendent DeCristofaro reviewed for the Committee the
District Improvement Plan – Goal Setting, Site Assessment Professional
Development Plan, Team Goals, Technology Plan and the Budget Building.
An overhead showed the student demographics, Quincy has 31 different
languages within the school system, there are 472 classrooms teachers,
student enrollment for the last eight years. He reviewed the academic
programs, academic support, those programs funded by grants, the non-
academic support, the subsidized services, i.e. food services, building
rentals, athletics, and transportation. He presented the next steps – Federal/state
grant funding allocation notice, state educational funding, FY10 City Budget
allocation, ARRA, SLT Budget Overview, School Committee Budget,
subcommittee meetings, public hearings, School Committee meetings and
City Council presentation.
Principals’ Letter
Then, the Superintendent then read into the record, the following letters:
Dear Mayor Koch and Members of the School Committee:
As Principals in the Quincy Public Schools, we are fully dedicated
to the children and young adults of Quincy.
Our professionalism and much of our personal lives are focused
directly on the success and Total well-being of our students, as well
as the instructional leadership we provide in this fine school system.
We realize that this upcoming year presents a major financial
Hardship to this city and, most importantly, to the students, staff and
families we are so very proud to represent. With this clear understanding,
we will not be requesting or bargaining with the Superintendent of Schools
for a wage increase in the 2009-2010 school year.
We do not take these actions lightly. However, we realize our professional
and personal dedication to Quincy and its children is our first priority.
Signed, the Principals of the Quincy Public Schools
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Supt. Leadership Team
Letter
Dear Mayor Koch and Members of the School Committee:
As the Superintendent’s Leadership Team and Academic Support staff
of the Quincy Public Schools, we work professionally and tirelessly in
support of the many unique areas in the school system. The dedication,
emphasis, and professionalism of our work are focused directly upon
the well-being and security of the children, young adults, and families in
Quincy.
We understand this upcoming year will be a particularly difficult budget
situation for our school system. It is with that understanding that those
of us in a contractual negotiating position for next year will be freezing
our salaries. Those of us with a contra t for next year that reflects a salary
increase will defer that in crease until the 2010-2011 school year.
We d o not take these actions lightly. However, we realize our professional
and personal dedication to Quincy and its children is our first priority.
Quincy Public Schools Administration.
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Gifts: Point Congregational Church
On a motion by Mrs. Dwyer, seconded by Mrs. Bragg, the Committee
accepted a gift of $500 donated by the Quincy Point Congregational Church
for services to homeless students. The ayes have it.
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5th. Grade LH students to Sterling
Mrs. Bragg made a motion, seconded by Mr. Puleo to accepted the
Superintendent’s recommendation to move the Lincoln Hancock fifth grade
to Sterling Middle School effective September 2009. On a roll call vote,
the motion passed 5-0. Mr. Mariano and Mayor Koch were absent.
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Naming of QPS bldgs. etc. to Policy Sub.
Mrs. Bragg moved into Policy subcommittee the issue of naming any
Quincy Public School building or any other items under the jurisdiction
of the School Committee.
With regard to the two letters read by the Superintendent, Mrs. Bragg said
it shows great leadership in a difficult time, and she commended all of the
leadership staff and the Superintendent for offering to do that. Mrs. Mahoney
also praised the Superintendent’s team and the principals for willing to step
up and consider the kids.
Communications Special Ed Events
Mrs. Mahoney announced the following Special Education events:
March 14 Arts & Crafts Club at Ward 4 1:30-2:30 p.m.
March 17 Monthly General Meeting at BM 7-9:00 p.m.
March 24 Parents Empowerment Support Group Ward 4 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
March 25 SPED Subcommittee Meeting 7-9:00 p.m.
March 28 SPED Resource Fair at NQHS 1-4:00 p.m.
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Retirements
The Committee noted the following retirements:
Teachers: Anne Lyons, Denise Dalton-Martell, Phyllis Reynolds
ROTC Instructor: Major William Zinnel
Resignations
The Committee noted the following resignations:
Teachers: Cristina Bucitelli, Jason Ryan
Appointments
The Committee noted the following appointments:
Teachers: Justine Messmer, Gregory Elsden
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Adjournment
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mr. Puleo the Committee adjourned
for the evening at 9:14 p.m. There was no executive session. On a roll call vote,
the motion passed 5-0. Mr. Mariano and Mayor Koch were absent.